Come and see our showpiece campus

Parents and pupils from Motherwell schools involved in the proposed new £36 million combined secondary at Ravenscraig are being invited to visit a showpiece campus in Coatbridge - as Bishop Joseph Devine entered the row and the SNP say mums and dads they’ve spoken to simply don’t want the school.

The invitation to view the £44million St Ambrose joint campus and community facility has been extended by North Lanarkshire learning and leisure convener Jim Logue and education and leisure boss Andrew Sutherland.

Letters have already been sent to parents of pupils at Taylor High School, Our Lady’s High School and Bothwellpark (ASN) High School giving them the opportunity to view St Ambrose High School on Saturday, April 26.

Mr Logue, convener of learning and leisure services, said: “The St Ambrose complex was built on a similar site to the one proposed for Ravenscraig and local people had similar concerns.

“During the consultation, we received many letters of objection. However pupils, staff and the wider community love the fantastic new facilities on their campus.”

The leading councillor clashed with Bishop Emeritus of Motherwell, the Rt Rev Joseph Devine, this week. The bishop described Mr Logue’s claim that elected Labour representatives were interfering in the issue as “astonishing, regrettable and bizarre”.

“Statutory consultation is designed to allow everyone in the local community to express their views and have these acknowledged and responded to - it is not for indulging in highly publicised, emotive and ill-formed comments.”

Nationalist Central Scotland MSPs Clare Adamson and Richard Lyle remain opposed to the merger plans and say current sites should be upgraded - which reflects parents’ position, they claim.

“There is no support from the parents for NLC’s proposals. We have serious concerns over the proposed capacity of the merged school, which is unclear in the documentation and also the proposed site is of serious concern to the parents,” the SNP representatives said in a joint statement.

“Rather than our local Labour politicians fighting with each other over this issue we would call on them to put aside these internal feuds and join us in concentrating on the best outcome. We will both be submitting a formal response to the consultation shortly and seeking answers as to why the upgrade of Taylor High and rebuild of Our Lady’s and Bothwellpark schools on their current sites has not been given due consideration.”

“My understanding is the land identified for the merged schools was designated for low-density housing and not for a structure needed for a large school building,” he states.

“I would ask that the consultation process be halted until such times as answers are given to the many questions raised. My constituents are deeply worried.”

A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council said they will be responding to Mr Roy in due course.

A report on the consultation process will be considered by the learning and leisure services committee in September.

Andrew Sutherland added: “A new school building would allow for far more flexibility around a skills-based, ICT-supported curriculum which can develop vocational themes for young people as they prepare for the future.

“If the proposals for a new school in Motherwell go ahead then it will build on the excellent teaching and learning which both schools offer but in buildings which are fit for purpose.”